Research & Collections
From its beginning in 1836, the New York State Museum has been home to some of the nation’s leading scientists, including pioneers in archaeology, paleontology, ethnology, and botany. Its collections now rank among the finest in many fields and total more than sixteen million specimens, objects, and artifacts.
Archaeology
Biology
Ethnography
Geology
History
Paleontology
Research at the New York State Museum today is as exciting as it is varied, with scientists and historians actively directing projects in biology, anthropology, geology, paleontology, and history. Research by staff represents one tangible way in which information about the natural and cultural histories of New York, and the world, is made available to the public. Research findings are presented in scholarly and popular publications, at professional meetings, in exhibitions, and in public programs.
Researchers throughout the world use the collections of the New York State Museum to address questions about New York's natural and human heritage. The Museum’s collections are made available to researchers and scholars and are also used in exhibitions and public programs. Participation in Museum collections curation and research projects is possible through internships and volunteer opportunities.
To explore the Museum’s Research and Collections Division, hover your mouse over the Research and Collections block at the top navigation bar.
News Articles
First occurrence of Dissakisite-(Ce) and Jamborite in New York
Published August 11, 2015 | Mineralogy
Dissakisite-(Ce) - Ca(Ce,REE)(Mg,Fe2+)(Al,Fe3+)2Si3O12(OH) - the magnesium analogue of the more common allanite (Ce), was found in a specimen from the Henry Rudy Farm, in Orange County. It occurs as millimeter-size pink crystals associated wi...
DNA studies examine the past and future of the birds of New York's Catskills and Adirondacks.
Published July 27, 2015 | Ornithology
Two papers have been published describing ornithological research by NYSM scientists. The papers are based on Ph.D. dissertation work conducted by Dr. Joel Ralston, former University at Albany graduate student, and NYSM Graduate Fellow under the s...
Archaeology Work in Utica
Published June 26, 2015 | CRSP
Since 2012, archaeologists from the State Museum have been working alongside a highway construction project in Utica, uncovering artifacts from the early 19th century. Why? The archaeologists are members of the Cultural Resources Survey Pr...
Museum Adds 1917 Women's Suffrage Petitions to Collection
Published June 26, 2015 | Social History
The Museum recently acquired a series of 1917 Franklin County women's suffrage petitions from Jean Kubaryk, a teacher at North Warren Central School District. Ms. Kubaryk had been displaying the petitions in her classroom for years, but ...
State Museum Acquires Unique Collection of Abenaki Native American Materials
Published June 26, 2015 | Ethnography
The Museum recently acquired a unique collection of 20th century Abenaki Native American materials. The collection was donated by Rodney Johnson of Rochester, NY. Rodney wanted to find a permanent home for the collection that had been handed down ...
Recent Acquisition: Long Island Archaeology Collection
Published June 26, 2015 | Historical Archaeology
The State Museum recently acquired an archaeological collection from the former Institute for Long Island Archaeology at Stony Brook University. This collection consists of artifacts from 47 significant archaeological sites, including both pr...
Human Frogs in the History Collections!
Published December 9, 2013 | Cultural History
The New York State Museum’s history collections contain two frog costumes for humans and one frog costume for a dog. These costumes belonged to Harry and Friede DeMarlo, a vaudeville couple that once played circuses and vaudeville houses all over ...
Memory Keepers
Published December 9, 2013 | Archaeology
When former Research and Collections Assistant Director and Curator of Ichthyology Dr. Robert Daniels retired in late 2012, he took with him over 30 years of specialist knowledge of the Museum’s fish collection, as well as key information about th...
Archaeological Discovery at Lake George
Published December 3, 2013 | Native American Archaeology
New York State Museum archaeologists have identified archaeological remains associated with a small Early Archaic camp dating to approximately 8,000 B.C. along the shore of Lake George in Warren County, New York. The site produced bifurcate and Ge...